India rejects China’s objection to Shah’s Arunachal visit
| Date :21-Feb-2020 |
NEW DELHI :
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that Arunachal Pradesh is an “integral and inalienable” part of India and Indian leaders routinely travel to the State as they do to any other State
INDIA on Thursday strongly rejected China’s objection to Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying that any criticism of visits by Indian leaders to a State of the country does not stand to reason. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that Arunachal Pradesh is an “integral and inalienable” part of India and Indian leaders routinely travel to the State as they do to any other State. China, which claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of south Tibet, objected to Shah’s visit to the State, saying it violated Beijing’s “territorial sovereignty” over it.
“Our position on Arunachal Pradesh is clear and consistent. Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India,” Kumar said at a media briefing. “Objecting to the visit of Indian leaders to a State of India does not stand to reason and understanding of the Indian people,” he added. Shah is in Arunachal Pradesh to attend the 34th Statehood Day function and launch a number of development projects. China routinely objects to Indian leaders’ visits to the north-eastern State. The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC). China and India have so far held 22 rounds of Special Representatives talks to resolve the border dispute.
No intention to scrap Art 371, Shah assures N-E
ITANAGAR :
REAFFIRMING the Government’s commitment to protecting the unique culture of the North-East, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday misinformation was spread after abrogation of Article 370 that identical fate awaited Article 371 in the region. Most of the States that have special provisions under Article 371 are in the Northeast. These provisions are aimed at preserving their cultural heritage and customary laws. Addressing a gathering to mark the 34th foundation day of Arunachal Pradesh, Shah said the North-East was only geographically united with the rest of India before 2014 when Narendra Modi assumed office of the Prime Minister.
“The real emotional integration of the region with the rest of the country happened only under the Modi Government,” he said. Shah said,” Misinformation was spread after abrogation of Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, that Article 371 will also be scrapped. It will never happen. Nobody has any such intention.”